Apple is shifting from Intel chips to its in-house ARM-based processors for its MacBook laptops for better control over both hardware and software. This was announced back at the WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) earlier this year.
The new report also talks about an upcoming 10.8-inch budget iPad that is arriving alongside the 13-inch ARM-based MacBook Pro/Air notebooks by the end of 2020. These upcoming ARM-based MacBooks are not only going to feature a performance boost but are also expected to be thinner with better battery life.
The total shipments for the MacBook lineup are expected to reach 16-17 million units this year as compared to 14.5-15.5 sales in 2019.
Apple will reportedly unveil a new 10.8-inch budget iPad around the same time as the new MacBooks. These iPads may feature Apple’s A12 SoCs, but it is uncertain whether they will be successors to the iPad Air lineup from 2019 or the iPad 7th generation. It is also unclear whether they will continue the traditional design or have slimmer bezels like the iPad Pro models.
LG, Sharp, and BOE will be supplying display panels for the iPads, whereas Taiwan’s Radiant Opto-Electronics will provide backlighting for the MacBooks and iPads.
There is no precise launch date for these upcoming devices as of yet, but we can expect the debut to take place somewhere during Q4 (Oct-Dec) 2020. We will most likely hear more on the matter as the launch draws near.